CHAPTER I 



THE LAST STAY IN ENGLAND 



Cook was welcomed in his own country as a 

 hero. His name was in every mouth, and for- 

 eign countries acknowledged his fame. In 

 France, Spain, Holland and Russia the great 

 exploits of this able navigator were unrestrain- 

 edly praised. All humanity was proud of James 

 Cook. 



Official honours were not long in being be- 

 stowed. Cook was promoted to the rank of 

 Captain and appointed one of the Captains of 

 Greenwich Hospital, an important post which 

 would enable him to live in comfort with his 

 family in an agreeable residence. 



He was now forty-eight, and for thirty-four 

 years he had wandered over all the oceans of the 

 world, gathering golden fruit unceasingly for his 

 country and for science by his marvellous dis- 

 coveries. England had the right to congratulate 

 herself upon such a man. 



On February 29th, 1776, the Royal Society 

 unanimously elected to membership the former 

 Whitby ship's boy, who was formally admitted 

 on the following March 7th. On the same day, 



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